FSU Student Describes Campus Shooting Experience

Initial Chaos and Reaction

• 💡 Ryan Cedergren, an FSU junior, was in the student union when the incident began.
• 🎯 He observed people at a nearby bar suddenly start running, signaling that something was wrong.
• 🏃‍♂️ The immediate reaction was to seek shelter behind a glass wall in the bowling alley, providing some cover but limited visibility.

Awareness and Response

• ⚠️ Alerts were received, but the presence of FSU police downstairs prompted a more cautious approach to hiding.
• 🧠 Cedergren states that within a minute, he knew what was happening, acknowledging that school shootings are unfortunately common enough to recognize the signs.
• ✅ He focused on staying calm and hiding to ensure his safety.

Evacuation and Aftermath

• 🤝 Approximately 15 minutes after the initial event, police found and escorted students out of the student union.
• 🚑 Outside, a large presence of EMS and police were tending to injured individuals.
• 🏠 Cedergren is now back in his apartment a few blocks from campus and feels safe.

Personal Impact and Communication

• 📹 While filming, Cedergren was in a state of shock, noting that while one prepares for such events, it's different when it happens to you.
• 😟 His parents are terrified but relieved he is safe, offering him the option to come home.
• 🗣️ He did not directly hear gunshots but confirmed that the mass running was the primary indicator of danger.

Campus Environment

• 📍 The student union is centrally located on campus, near a main street, and is a common hangout spot.
• 👥 At the time of the incident, the bowling alley within the union had about 40 people, and it typically gets crowded around lunchtime.